YOUR WORK.
% >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> TONIGHT WE SHARE THE STORY OF
% A COVID-19 SURVIVOR, A CRAWFORD
% COUNTY MAN WHO NEVER THOUGHT IT
% WOULD AFFECT HIM.
% HE'S A SKEPTIC NO MORE.
% AS TREVOR KELLER REPORTS, HE'S
% NOW TELLING HIS STORY.
% >> WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
% BEGAN, CRAIG BELL WASN'T
% WORRIED.
% >> AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
% I THOUGHT THIS THING IS JUST
% GETTING BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.
% I'M LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
% I THOUGHT, THIS STUFF AIN'T
% COMING HERE.
% >> "HERE" IS EASTMAN, A SMALL
% TOWN OF 400 IN CRAWFORD COUNTY.
% BELL IS A 59-YEAR-OLD MAIL
% CARRIER.
% IN APRIL HE NEARLY BECAME A
% COVID FATALITY.
% >> I WAS GETTING A FEVER AND MY
% HEAD WAS OUT OF SORTS.
% >> IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO URGENT
% CARE TO GET A COVID TEST, WHICH
% TURNED OUT POSITIVE.
% HE WAS TAKEN TO MAYO CLINIC IN
% LA CROSSE, WHERE HE'D SPEND
% EIGHT DAYS IN A COMA WITH A
% BREATHING TUBE.
% >> HE WAS BREATHING CLOSE TO 40
% TIMES A MINUTE, WHICH IS
% EXHAUSTING.
% >> THEY SAID THIS ISN'T LOOKING
% GOOD AT ALL.
% HE'S BASICALLY -- HE'S READY FOR
% THE -- HE'S READY FOR THE
% GRAVEYARD HERE.
% >> DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, HIS
% KIDNEYS STOPPED WORKING AND WE
% HAD TO START HIM ON DIALYSIS.
% >> BELL'S WIFE JULIE WAS TOLD BY
% DOCTORS TO EXPECT THE WORST, BUT
% SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO VISIT THE
% HOSPITAL.
% >> IF HE'S GOING TO BE GONE, I'D
% LIKE TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIM.
% AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T LET YOU
% DO THAT, BUT WE PROMISE THAT
% WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HE GOES,
% YOU KNOW -- HE WON'T FEEL PAIN
% AND HE'LL GO EASY.
% >> BELL'S CONDITION IMPROVED ON
% DAYS SEVEN AND EIGHT AND HE WAS
% BROUGHT OUT OF THE COMA.
% HE'D SPEND TWO WEEKS IN THE
% HOSPITAL.
% >> THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST
% HIM.
% SO I'M VERY SURPRISED, VERY
% HAPPY THAT WE'VE HAD THE OUTCOME
% THAT WE'VE HAD.
% >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN
% EASTMAN.
% IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE.
% >> BELL STILL GOES TO KIDNEY
% DIALYSIS THREE TIMES A WEEK AND
% DOCTORS HOPE FOR A FULL
% RECOVERY.
% BELL SAYS HE'S FEELING BETTER
% AND THAT PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THE
% VIRUS SERIOUSLY.
% HIS WIFE DESCRIBED THEIR
% EXPERIENCE AS, QUOTE, "HELL."
% >> I DON'T HAVE ONE WORD TO
% DESCRIBE IT OTHER THAN -- IT'S
% HELL.
% MY WIFE'S GOT IT RIGHT.
% IT'S HELL.
% >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
% TREVOR KELLER.